Volunteer Advocates

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About CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

Location:

PO Box 4426, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, US

Mission Statement

The mission of CASA of the TN Heartland is to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts in Anderson, Blount and Scott counties. We promote and support quality volunteer representation for children to provide each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home.

Description

CASATNH is looking for volunteers able to commit to at least one year of service as Court Appointed Special Advocates. The 30 hour training and 3 hours of court observation prepare future CASAs for their role as advocates for children in abuse and neglect cases in Juvenile Court.

CASA volunteers are everyday citizens that judges appoint to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their homes due to parental abuse and neglect. They stand up for these children and change their lives. CASA volunteers listen first. Then they act. Volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone in that child’s life-parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them. Being a CASA volunteer does not require any special education or background, just a heart for children and a willingness to speak out and represent their best interests.

You must be 21 or over, pass background checks, participate in a 33-hour pre-service training course and agree to stay with a case until it is closed (a year and a half on average).